which he giveth to men 1 It is not that knowledge or knowing which is naturall Rom 3.10 and 11.34 Truth it is that as God through Christ and for his sake for a time preserveth the naturall life of man so through Christ and for his sake he giveth and preserveth unto men for the time of this naturall life their naturall understanding reason judgmentaind conception Job 35.11 Rom. 1.32 By which they may learne and understand some things in the workes of God Job 36 24 25. And some things in the Narration or History of the Scriptures or Word of God Rom 2.17.21 Luke 10.26 27. And it is also true that God hath imprinted and manifested his wisdome even some testimonies of his being and goodnesse in his workes of Creation and Providence Psalm 19 1-6 Act. 14.17 Rom 1.19 20. and 2.4 And in the Scriptures or Word of God hath set forth Christ the wisdome of God what he hath done what he is and what he will do and doth 1 Cor. 1.24 Io. 5.39 46. Rom 4.23.25 And yet this is also true that in respect of all men that are but naturall and have but their naturall life and understanding though preserved in mercy for Christs sake This light shineth in darknesse and the darknesse comprehendeth it not Iohn 1.5 Men by their naturall wisdome do not find out or attain to know God in the wisdome of God set forth in the bookes of Creatures or Scriptures 1 Cor 1.21 The naturall man cannot know the things of the Spirit of God which he teacheth concerning the things of Christ because they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor 2.14 So that the naturall man with all his naturall powers and parts cannot attaine the right knowledge of the things of God in Christ by all his search either in the Workes of God or in the Word of God Eccles 10.15 2 It is not that knowledge which is both naturall and artificial attained by knowledge of Arts in use of Arts and artificiall helps whence that interrogation challenge Isa 33. where is the Scribe c. A truth it is that through Christ and for his sake God blesseth mens industly in study of Letters Tongues Arts and Sciences that are naturall and honest and also their honest industry in use and exercise thereof So as many thereby become very knowing wise prudent and skilfull Orators and Disputers In study of the works of God they may attain excellent knowledge about the variety of soyles and seasons the nature of Beasts Birds Plants the nature dispontion and manners of men and so be very skilfull for husbandry trading and merchandize Government of Common-weales Isa 3.1.4 Lawes Warre Physick c. And this is a great mercy to a Common-wealth and a correction to want them And in study of the Scriptures such may attain excellent knowledge for translation of Tonguâ—s understanding and explicating Histories discerning of Times and some Proprecies and of the scope and circumstances of places and etyâ—â—ologie of words which is a mercy to the Nation where they live while they keep their bounds yea and to the Churches also Matth. 2.5 6. Luke 12.54 57 Isa 3.1 4. But yet this is also true that the verity excellency depth pretiousnesse enjoyment and efficacy of the things of God in Christ these Rabbies and Princes of the World for wisdome and understanding cannot by this wisdome find out discern approve or receive though they reade and study the words in which it is exprest yet in those words it is hidden from them and they by their wisdome in all their searching cannot finde out this mysterious wisdome of God in Christ 1 Cor 1 20.21 and 2.7 8 14. Matth. 11.25 Luke 10.21 So as naturall and artificiall knowledge and wisdome cannot reach or attaine the right knowledge of the things of God in Christ Prov. 30.2 3 4. So that the knowledge or knowing here spoke of is not naturall or artificiall but supernaturall as shall be shewn anon 3 Neither yet is this such a knowledge or knowing of which nature is no way capable of the receit of it or such as doth destroy the naturall or artificiall knowledge or as if they could no way consist and be together in the same subject Act. 18.24 28. and 7.22 23 Heb. 11.24 25. The body or humane nature of our Lord Jesus Christ neither did nor could raise it self yet was it capable of being raised and was by the Divine Power not destroyed but raised And yet the resurrection though it was of the humane nature yet it was not at all by the humane but by the divine nature the very Spirit and Power of God that not the divine but the humane nature was raised Act. 2.23 24 30 31. Rom 4.24 and 6.4 The eyes of blind Bartemeus could by no naturall meanes attain to see but they were capable of receiving sight by the guift of God Mark 10.46 52. And for the better understanding this businesse wee may consider that it is appointed to men once to dye Heb. 9.27 Eccles 9.10 and when they do dye and give up the Ghost then all their naturall and artificiall knowledge and wisdome dyes together with them And as they shall be one day raised again by the Spirit and power of Christ so then the knowledge they have shall not be naturall or artificiall but only that which they shall have from the power of God that raised them 1 Cor. 13.11 12. And the members of Christ by vertue of their union with him shall have all knowledge tending to happinesse from him by the divine nature filling them with light and leading both soule and body 1 Iohn 3.2 So that they shall then know perfectly and see as they are seen and know as they are known But here in this life as their bodies so their naturall powers are spiritually humbled and mortified that they may in the regeneration be quickned by Rom 8.10 11 12.23 and made serviceable to the Spirit not annihilated or slain nor is the man perfectly and totally made alive in the regeneration here wrought nor will be till perfectly and totally dead in respect of all naturall life but the Spirit is alive for Righteousnesse sake 1 Cor 13.9 And the Spirit quickneth also the mortall body and so he may as pleaseth him The naturall powers and faculties for such service as he pleaseth 1 Cor. 1.29 The to tall redemption of the body being yet waited for our knowledge yet imperfect so then though neither natural nor artificiall knowledge bee the knowledge of spirituall things nor doth nor can attain it yet the spirituall knowledge may consist and be together with them in the same subject and having humbled and slaine the pride of them may make such use of them in some services as the Spirit pleaseth and as it is a punishment or correction during this life to have the body by Diseases disabled from service and tormented with pain Deut. 28.28 so is it to have the naturall reason and
Christian Reader Having fore-written about the extent of the death and sacrifice of Christ That it might be more usefully understood I have here presented to thy view this following Tract desiring that is good may be received And what swarveth from Truth that I may be lovingly informed thereof which I spall heartily accept at the hands of any or if evident truth be faulted shall with meeknesse give answer if I may be permitted And that God may graciously discover to us and leade us into all truth Is the desire of the least of his mercies and servants Tho Moore A DISCOVRSE ABOUT THE PRETIOVS BLOOD AND SACRIFICE OF IESVS CHRIST CHAP. I. The Preface COnsidering how our Saviour when he was about to leave his Disciples whom he so dearly loved left with them by his institution His Supper in which they might spiritually enjoy his presence And then said to them Do this in remembrance of mee Luk. 22.19 And that the Apostle saith That in so doing we shew forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.25.26 And likewise That the Apostle affirmeth that as many as are baptized into Christ were baptized into his death Rom. 6.3 so that to be taught and subdued to the acknowledgement and brought into the faith of Christ and unto conformity with him Is to be taught and subdued to the acknowledgement and brought into the faith of the death of Christ and conformed to him in fellowship of his death as that wherein the vertue of his Resurrection is met with Rom. 6.4.8 Gal. 2.20 Phil. 3.2.7.8.9 2 Cor. 4.10.11.12 2 Tim. 2.11 And the Scripture affirmeth of all the Priesthood Sacrifices Atonement and Purifications under the Law That they were but figures types and shadowes of that to be found in Christ He being the body Col. 2.17 And the truth of all typed in the shadowes found in him Heb. 9.9.23 Chap. 10.1 And so that there was more vertue Power and Prevalency with God in Christ his offering himselfe and presenting the vertue of his blood before his Father than in all the offerings of the other Priests Heb. Chap. 10.14 And that there is more Power vertue and prevalency with and in men for purgeing the conscience in the spirituall sprinkling of the vertue of the blood and sacrifice of Christ therein than was in all those shadowing purifications and sprinklings to purifie the flesh Heb 9.12.13.14 Yea those who in being taught of God have experimented the truth hereof call the blood of Christ pretious 1 Pet. 1.19 And have professed in their Preachings not to determine to know any thing among their hearers save Jesus Christ and him crucified 1 Cor. 2.2 And not to glory and rejoyce save in the Crosse of our Lord Jesus Christ Gal. 6.14 It gives me to conceive that a sober reader will be perswaded that there is somthing in the blood death and sacrifice of Christ of infinite vallue and worthy our hartiest and deepest consideration most wiste view best remembrance and choyse acceptation and so I am encouraged to present the same to consideration and for more orderly proceeding to consider 1. What is comprehended in these termes the sufferings Blood Death and Sacrifice of Christ 2. The manifold ends of his suffering Blood Death and Sacrifice as the Scripture distinctly sets them forth 3. The necessity of the sufferings Blood Death and Sacrifice of Christ 4. The Excellency Dignity and worth of this blood and sacrifice 5. The vertue operation and prevalency thereof presented and applyed 6. The usefulnesse of the same knowne and believingly remembred CHAP. II. What is comprehended in these tearmes The Sufferings Blood Death and Sacrifice of Christ IN these together and every of these tearmes in Scripture is ment Somtime fully and almost onely and alwayes inclusively The very suffering of Christ it selfe The shedding of his blood and his death Esa 53.4.5 Surely he hath borne our griefes and carryed our sorrowes He was wounded for our transgressions the chastisement of our peace was upon him Rom. 4.25 He was delivered for our offences 1 Cor. 15.3 Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scripture Gal. 3.13 Being made a curse for us 1 Pet. 3.18 Christ hath once suffered for our sins the just for the unjust 2 Cor. 5.14.15 He dyed for All Heb. 2.9 By the grace of God he tasted death for every man 2. Somtimes together with this former sence of the sufferings the Blood-shed and Death of Christ it selfe is ment Also in the same tearmes of suffering Blood and Death of Christ the vertue and efficacy of this suffering Blood-shed and death of Christ as he is risen from the Dead free and just from all our sins imputed to him and a victor over all our curse and death imposed on him As namely 1. The fulfilling the truth of God in the death of the sinner for so we judge if one dyed for all then are all dead and he dyed for all that they which live should live to him c. 2 Cor. 5.14.15 Gen. 2.17 2. The satisfying Divine Justice in that all have suffered the curse in one publike man being made a curse and having overcome it for them Gal. 3 10-13 with Esa 53.5 and 2 Cor. 5.19.21 3. The satisfying and fulfilling the Law accomplishing a righteousnesse for us that Way may be made for the righteousnesse of the law to be fulfilled in us Gal. 1.4 Rom. 8.3.4 4. The overcoming death and him that had the power of death And so takeing out of the way that which was in the way between God and us contrary to us 2 Tim. 1.10 Heb. 2.14 Col. 2.14 So as in him mercy and truth are met righteousnesse and peace have kissed Psal 85.10 such the vertue of the sufferings blood and death of Jesus Christ being risen from the dead And thus he is said to be risen for our Justification Rom. 4.25 And so is he justified in the roome of all mankind that they are all in him as in the publike person justified Rom. 3.23.24 All have sinned and come short of the glory of God Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Rom. 5.18 As by the offence of one unto all men to Codemnation even so by the righteousnesse of one to all men to justification of life And he by himselfe purged or made purgation for our sinns and then sate downe c. Heb. 1.3 And so hath taken away our sins by the sacrifice of himselfe Heb. 9.26 Iohn 1.29 1 Iohn 3.5 And through death destroyed him that had the power of death Heb. 2.14 And all this the vertue and efficacy of the death and resurrection of him that is risen from the dead 1 Cor. 15. tot 3. Somtimes together with both the former sences by the suffering blood death and sacrifice of Christ is ment His offering and presenting himselfe in heaven before his Father by and with the vertue of this his suffering blood and death as the price the Ransome
the redemption and purgation wrought by Christ hath been visiting enlightning moving at their hearts and striving with them to effect repentance and faith in them and so to bring them to himself and they after the knowledge of the truth refuse resist or depart from it willingly and will none of God none of Christ will not be brought in to him this way to have all their life and confidence in his grace and guidance by it but persist in their wilfull refusall or Apostasie till he leave striving and give them up to their own lusts and Satan This deserveth kindleth such wrath as wil not be appeased and such a fire as will not be quenched Gen. 6 3 Prov. 1.23 24 c. Psal 81.11 Ezek. 24.13 Matth. 23.37 38. Heb. 6.4 5.2 Pet. 2. Jude totū And the execution of this is called The wrath to come Luke 3.7 1 Thes 1.10 fire unquenchable Luke 3.17 Mark 9.48 hell fire Matth. 18.9 Mark 9.47 the second death Rev. 20.14 3 By the greatnesse and inexcuseable folly rebellion and filthinesse of this sinne it being an under-valuing neglect and refusall of so great salvation and redemption first obtained and then first preached by the Lord himselfe yea a denying him that bought them and so a treading under foot the Sonne of God Heb. 2.3 2 Pet. 2.1 Heb. 10.29 a hardening the heart against the mercies and meanes that through the pretious Blood Sacrifice of Christ was procnred for and extended to them to lead them to repentance and so counting the blood of the Covenant an unholy thing Rom. 2.5 Heb. 10.29 a turning from him that speakes from heaven and so resisting and offering despite to the Spirit of grace that strove with them to bring them to God Heb. 12.25 10.29 Act. 7.51 In a word by their preferring darknesse before light when light came John 3.19 exalting their own wisdom workes and choyce and objecting and taking offence at the means Doctrine and Spirit of Grace and turning from it after it hath so farre been extended to them they crucifie again make of no account and efficacy to themselves the Sonne of God and put him to an open shame Heb. 6.6 A great ingratitude and fearfull rebellion against so great and gracious a God and Saviour and Spirit and so reall an offer and tender Psalm 81.11 Great folly and madnesse to refuse so great and reall mercy and salvation and altogether excuselesse they cannot say we fell and were loft in Adam no redemptiō was wrought for us wherby we might have been saved Our Fathers have eaten sowre grapes and the childrens teeth are set on edge Ezek. 18.2 Rom. 5.12 18. for the later part of the plea is false God wil punish it for though they were lost in Adam and could no way redeeme themselves yet in Christ redemption was again wrought for them Nor can they say this mercy was altogether hidd and no meanes used towards them that they might have sought and found him Act. 14.17 and 17.26 nor will this pleasure we had in our selves no will or power to choose lyfe For though it was not in them yet it was in him And his spirit by which he tendred grace wanted not power Mich. 2.7 He doth not looke to gather where he hath not sowne though wicked Servants so say But on his examination they will be dumb Mat. 25.26 and 22.12 Sinnes of ignorance and weaknesse to which through the fall men are necessitated and for which yet there is a remedy though they are directly against the Father and indirectly against the Sonne and holy spirit sinnes against the meanes procured by Christ and extended through him to lead to repentance and faith and so against ordinary light warnings and motions are against the Father and directly against the Sonne yet all manner of these sorts of sinne shall be forgiven unto men but the willfull and rebellious sinning in refusing and opposing the grace it selfe in Christ and evidenced by the spirit after light obstinately refusing to have all life in and guidance by that grace the spirit discovers in Christ But blaspheming the same This sinning is directly against the Father and the Sonne and the Holy Ghost and shall never be forgiven Mat. 12.31 Marke 3.28.29 4 By the evilnesse and remedilesnesse of the state and condition such sinning throwes these men into And that may be seene in two things 1 That whereas they were once dead through Adam and a ransome was given for them by Christ and life procured for them and this set forth in the Gospel and in the meanes tendred to them with some quickning motions of the spirit and hope of life there being no other meanes or Sacrifice They having wilfully cast aside this have rent themselves out of this booke of life renounced this life that was set in hope before them and are become Trees twice dead and pluckt up by the rootes so as there is no more hope for them Jude 12. 2 That whereas when they were fallen in Adam though truth and Justice pleaded for their Death yet mercy was for them and found out a ransome in which truth and justice did meete and joyne with mercy nor their good And though Justice might have risen against them for their strayings in ignorance and unbeliefe yet compassion and mercy had patience and forbearance to waite for them but now by his spirit he hath been striving with them and they will none of Christ but harden themselves against him and oppose and offer wrong and violence to Christ and his word and people even mercy also with Justice and truth is turned against them not that there is any change in God but they have put themselves into such a condition that his mercy becomes crosse to them the light is pleasant to the eye and that it troubles the sore eye the change is in the eye not in the light so Gods love and mercy is the same for ever His delight is in his Sonne and his pleasure in his people made one with his Sonne yea so great that when men harden their hearts against his Sonne the Gospel and spirit of his Sonne and turne to oprresse those that are vessels of mercy The more he loves his Sonne and the dearer his people are to him the more doth his mercy move him to plead their cause and plague their enemies and so he smote Egypt overthrew Pharoh and his Host in the sea smote great and mighty Kings c. For his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136.10.20 Oh heavy when mercy stands against them 5 By the greatnesse of torments and punishments to be executed on such sinners which as the Scriptures sets it forth is very terrible for it is the same that at first was prepared for the Divell and his Angels who sinned freely and without a Tempter or any cause Iude 6. Mat. 25.41 So it appeares that 1 The Death on mankind for the first transgression was an Allenation from God a
Degree 2 Thes 1.3 And in respect of the diversity of Degrees in faith some are called Babes some strong men and some Fathers 1 Iohn 2.12.13.14 2 That the Acts or Actings of this faith be divers and manifold as to say a areceiving Act a springing Act and a flowing and streaming Act as in the Scripture and experience believers find First a receiving Act this faith wrought by the spirit of grace in the heart receiveth the history or record and Testimony of God in the Gospel concerning Christ 1 Thes 2.13 2 Thes 1.10 1 Iohn 5.9.10.11 The grace of God in Christ testified Rom. 1.5 and 5.17 As remission of sinnes Act. 10.43 Justification Peace Sanctification Liberty of accesse to God and hope of glory Rom. 5.1.2.3 Act. 26.18 Divine power and strength of relyance on God Rom. 5.5.10.11 And yeelding up according to the leadings of grace 2 Tim. 1.7 2 Pet. 1 1-4 Whence also such exhortations to believers as Rom. 12.1.2 Phil. 2.1.2.12.13 and that 1 Iohn 4.4 and 5.4 Secondly a springing Act for from this faith wrought by the spirit in the heart springeth up love of God and Jesus Christ our Lord and joy in God 1 Pet. 1.7.8 Rom. 5.11 And love of brethren 1 Iohn 3.23 and 4.21 and 5.1 2 Cor. 5.14 and patience and meeknesse c. Gal. 5.22 According to that is said Iohn 7.38 Thirdly a flowing or streaming Act from the springs the motions flowing to put forth accordingly Rom. 10.10 And this more ordinarily to pray give thankes declare his goodnesse shew mercy c. Psal 116.10 2 Cor. 4.13 or more extraordinary in some miraculous operations Mat. 17.20 Luke 17.6 Marke 16 17 18. 3 That notwithstanding the divers Degrees in this faith and the divers manner of Acting and Acts of this faith yet the faith it selfe is but one and onely one Ephes 4.4 As there is but one body even one true Church or Sanctuary that is united to Christ and shall be in and with him for ever Cant. 6.9 And this Church one seed Gal. 3.17 One Sonne Hosea 11.1 One Christ one body though the members be many 1 Cor. 12.12 And as there is but one head husband and Lord of this body and Church with all its members which is Jesus Christ the Sonne of God and our Saviour Ephes 1.22.23 and 4.15.16 and 5.30 1 Cor. 8.6 And as there is but one Baptisme whereby we are baptized into this one Body whereof Christ is the head and that is by the spirit and with the washing of water and the word And this is into the Death and unto the resurrection of Christ and so for conformity in one and therethrough conformity in the other 1 Cor. 12.13 Ephes 5.26 Rom. 6.3 4 5. Tit. 3.4.5 And as there is but one God Father to whom we come in coming to Christ and he the Father of Christ and of every of us Ephes 4.6 And as there is but one spirit proceeding from the father the son effecting breathing one spirit minde disposition or heart that the spirit mind disposition and heart of Christ into which all that are baptised into Christ are made to drinke and so are one spirit Ephes 4.4 even so likewise as in the place fore-cited there is but one faith True it is The word Faith in Scripture is used diversly somtime for the object of faith even the ground and foundation of faith and that which is to be and is beleeved and beleeved in and to that end to be preached and heard Rom. 1.5 10.6 Gal. 1.23 3.5 Sometimes the word is used for the grace of faith Col. 1.4 2 5-12 Eph. 2.8 Sometimes for both the object and the grace united with the object together Acts 13.8 Rom. 4.11 9.30 And yet however taken there is but one faith The object in every respect is one The Gospel or word of grace though it hath many branches and uses yet is but one and the same Gospel 2 Cor. 11.4 with Gal. 1.7.8.9 The Gospel Col. 1.5.23 Even so the Lord Jesus Christ set forth in the Gospel though set forth as he is indeed the Sonne of God and the Sonne of Man yea God Man and declared in respect of what he was and what he became for us and what he hath done and what he is for us and with what he is furnished and what he is to us And as he is the Saviour of all men especially of them that beleeve and the Judge of all c. yet he is but one 2 Cor. 11.4 with 1 Cor. 8.6 the Christ John 4.42 Even so God the Father that is in Christ is one God though his works be manifold 1 Cor. 8.6 Gal. 3.20 1 Tim. 2.5 even so the holy Spirit that proceedeth from the Father and the Sonne and discovereth Christ and God in Christ and beareth forth the testimony however his gifts and operations be many and manifold yet the Spirit is but one 1 Cor. 12.4 11. yea the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit are 1 John 5.7 one God Mark 12 32.34 set forth in one Gospel And so the object of faith is one and so faith also though so taken The grace of faith or the beleeving it self that is wrought in the heart by the Spirit of grace however there are diversity of degrees in the same both in the strength of beleeving and also in the fulnesse of the discovery of the object beleeved in the effects accordingly and also the Acts manifold as is shewn yet the faith it selfe is but one And this is evident in the forenamed place Ephes 4.4 where both faith and the object of faith and the means and the hope and the people that receive it are all mentioned distinctly so that the word faith there meanes the grace of faith and it is expresly affirmed to be one There is one faith As for humane and worldly faith or a shew and pretence of divine faith and hypocriticall profession thereof it is no faith at all in Scripture language there is no vertue in gtting or retaining it nor danger in departing therefrom in respect of any spirituall life As for that beliefe of the report of the Gospel and profession thereof which is destitute of the life and operation of the Spirit of faith it is no more faith then the body of a man is a man when the Ghost is given up and departed Jam. 2.26 So as there is no other true and living faith but one the receiving the history and record the receiving remission of sinnes justification and sanctification and power for divine operations or miracles the springs the streames the acts as is shewn are all by one and the same faith And so it is one and the same faith that in discovery of the object is tendered and to which called and which by the divine testimony is effected and which in abiding is after confirmed and which groweth and worketh by love it is still one and the same faith 2 Pet. 1.1 And